Chapter 11
At lunch Harry told Ron and Hermione what had happened.
"So, she said yes?" Ron asked.
"Actually, I think I'm the one that said yes," Harry admitted with a smile of reminiscence. It had all happened so fast.
"Yeah, but who cares? She said yes! Way to go!" Ron exclaimed.
"So, you're going to Hogsmead together tomorrow?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, that's what she said," Harry answered with a slight jolt, as he had not realized that tomorrow was Saturday.
"Maybe we can meet up with you guys for a little bit." Hermione suggested.
"Yeah, that would be great," Harry said. He was uncertain what being a lone with Lyn, on a date, would be like. He hoped she would be alright with meeting up with friends for a while.
Saturday dawned with a slight chill in the air, but the sun was shining brightly and it looked like a perfect fall day. Ron and Hermione were planning on going to Hogsmead later in the day, so Harry bid them farewell and hurried out of the portrait hole to meet Lyn by the lake.
"Good luck." Ron called after him.
Harry was crossing the grounds to the lake looking for Lyn. He almost missed her. She was lying on her side in the grass with one of her hands supporting her head and the other hand making small whirl pools in the lake. Evelyn heard Harry approaching and turned to smile up at him. He sat down beside her, not sure what to say. "I almost didn't see you," Harry confessed.
"Afriad I wouldn't show up?" Lyn asked with amusement on her face.
"No, I just-" Harry stammered.
Lyn giggled and interrupted him, "I'm sorry, teasing you isn't fair." He just smiled at her. The sun was dancing in her curls. Before he could stop himself, he reached up and pushed one of her loose curls back from her face and combed his fingers through her long tresses. He felt Lyn tense at this bold physical contact. The soft curls clung pleasantly to his fingers. Harry felt Lyn relax and saw her close her eyes for a moment as he let his hand run gently out of her hair and back to his lap. Lyn felt her heart beating loudly under her rib cage. To slow it and regain her senses she sighed contentedly, "I love fall. It is almost like the leaves change color just because they are unsure what else to do."
Harry just let her gentle words wash over him. They sat in silence for a few moments watching the ripples in the lake. Harry was a bit nervous that he had made her uncomfortable. He didn't know what had come over him. But he reflected on how she had closed her eyes and sighed, as if she had craved that gentle show of emotion. He didn't have need to worry. Lyn soon asked in her usual upbeat voice, "Shall we go to the village then?"
"Yeah, let's go." Harry said. He extended his hand to help her up. She grinned and slipped her hand into his. Other than shaking her hand the day they had met, this was the first time Harry felt her hand in his. He was surprised by how small it was. Her fingers were slender and delicate. She had hands of silk; soft and warm, giving him no hint to the kind of life she had lived. After helping her up he kept his grip on her and he was delighted when she didn't pull away. It was almost as if the agreement to go on a date had let fall the barriers they had built up. Their physical contact was simple and natural to them. There was no push or awkwardness to it. Hand in Hand they walked to the village.